Chapter 49
Forty-Nine
DARIA
Ten minutes after my promised five minutes, I finish the final touches on the marketing graphics and lock my computer. Linc, who has been patiently waiting, straightens from where he was leaning against my desk when I grab my purse and phone.
“All good?” I don’t like the lines of concern on his face, but telling an alpha not to worry about their omega is pointless. It’s built into their DNA to protect their mate.
“Yup,” I tell him with a smile. “The campaign pack for the tentacle toys is ready to go. Terrance is going to review it.”
We head toward the elevator. The shock of what happened has already started to wear off. Everyone is focused on their work and hardly notices us leaving. Terrance waves from his cubicle, and I smile back.
“I trust that you guys know what you’re doing.” Linc says. “You and Terrance seem to get along well.”
I side-eye him. “He’s a good co-worker .”
Linc’s lips pull into a smirk. “I’m not jealous.”
Shaking my head, I step into the elevator. “You know, for someone who is so good at figuring out if someone is lying, you’re terrible at it.”
“Yeah, well.” He tugs me into his side as the carriage takes us to the lobby. “Terrance is great, but if he even thinks about you naked, I swear he’s fired.”
“How will you know if he thinks that?”
“Trust me, I’ll know.” Linc’s grip tightens on me ever so slightly.
“Okay, big guy. Take it easy. No one is going to steal me away.”
“Oh, I know that.”
I arch an eyebrow. “You know?”
He nods. “Yup. Because you love us, and we give you the best orgasms you’ve ever had, and you keep stealing my shirts and hiding them in your nest.”
I bite my lip to keep from giggling, because he’s not wrong. And the rest of the way home, Lincoln and I work our way around the awkwardness of what happened until it’s a distant memory.
There’s no football practice today, so we find Marco and Vic in the living room, shouting at the TV as their characters fight off a fresh horde of zombies. Marco doesn’t even react when we come in, and that comfort, the peace of mind in knowing he isn’t afraid, hits me in the heart. I break away from Linc and settle onto the couch next to my brother.
“Daria,” he complains when I side-hug him. “Are you trying to kill me?”
“Accept my love.” I hug him even harder.
“Nooooooooooo! Dang it, I died!” Marco sets the controller on the couch and lightly shoves my shoulder. “This is your fault.”
“Just respawn.”
Vic scoffs. “Respawn, she says.”
Marco nods in his direction. “Like that’ll fix everything.”
The two of them share a gamer moment. Marco pats my arm and leans his forehead against mine for a second. “I love you, sis, but I need to focus.”
Blowing out a dramatic breath, I release him and slouch against the cushions. “Fine, play your zombie game.”
“Thank you,” he says, grinning at me before jumping right back into the fight.
Linc is clattering around in the kitchen as they play. Kai shows up a little while later, dropping a quick kiss on the top of my head before going to help Linc. I’m certain he doesn’t know what happened, but it’ll only be a matter of minutes before the truth comes out.
I tuck my legs under me and chew on my cheek.
Vic’s phone buzzes on the table, and he pauses long enough to look at the message. Frowning at the screen, he quickly taps out a response and sets it back on the table before focusing on the game for a few minutes. “I’ll be right back,” he says when his character dies a little too conveniently.
As soon as he leaves, Marco hands me the controller.
I sigh and start playing, doing an absolute shit job of eradicating the flesh-eating monsters.
“So, they’re talking about you, right?” Marco asks.
“Probably,” I say with a shrug. “Some shit went down at work.”
“Oh?”
“My ex showed up. He’s their son.”
Marco glances at me, and his character makes a gurgling sound as a zombie takes him out. “Well, that’s complicated.”
“Yeah.” I take out the zombie who attacked him, only to be bitten by another. “Dammit! This game sucks,” I growl before hitting the respawn button.
“So, what happened?”
As Marco and I do our best to fight off the ever-growing horde, I give him a quick rundown of the drama, making sure I emphasize that I didn’t set out to hurt Ryan.
“Well, Ryan sounds like a douche, and this pack is great.”
“You don’t think I’m a horrible person?” I’ve tried hard to be a good role model for Marco.
He pulls a face. “Why would I? You can’t control who your scent matches are.”
“True.” When my character dies again, I growl. “Why do you even play this game?”
“Because it’s fun,” he says.
“How’s school? Any word from Mom?”
Marco shakes his head, trying and failing to keep his expression neutral.
I recognize the hurt on his face. “I wish I could tell you it gets better.”
“It’s not a big deal.”
“Marco,” I say, voice soft. “She’s your mom. It’s okay to be confused and hurt.”
His fingers mash into the controller buttons harder than before. “I don’t get how she can not care. Like, I’m her son, you know?”
“Unfortunately, I do.” Our eyes connect, and while I hate that we share this pain, it’s nice to know that he’s not alone.
“I used to dream that, one day, I’d come home from school, and she’d be there, excited to greet me, and we’d make cookies and play board games—you know, normal people stuff.”
I nod. I’ve been there. “We have board games here,” I offer. “And I’m pretty sure Kai knows how to make a mean cookie.”
Marco gives me a watery smile. “You want to do normal people stuff with me?”
“Of course, I do. You’re my brother. I hate that Mallory hurt you as much as she hurt me, but we can make our own family.”
“You already have one,” he points out, referring to Letti and my dads. Marco never knew his dad. Outside of Mom, I’m all he has.
“Well, you’re part of it, and it’s about time you start acting like it.” I sniff, blinking back tears as my character shouts in pain and dies again. “I’m really bad at this.”
“Yeah, you really are,” Marco says with a laugh, batting a stray tear off his cheek. “But we’ll figure out how to survive together.”
“As a family.”
He nods at the TV. “Families who fight zombies together, stay together.”
After dinner, we all retreat to the living room to find something to watch. A newscast comes on, and before Kai can change the channel, I grab his forearm. “Wait.”
He glances at me, but my eyes are set on the TV and the dirty scumbag who fucked with my bestie last year. Mr. Mosley is standing before the judge as his sentencing is read.
“Three years in prison?” I growl. “That’s bullshit!”
“Oh, I heard about this case.” Lincoln leans forward and reads the scrolling text. “Fraudster gets off easy.”
Crossing my arms, I glare at the TV. “He’s gross.”
The guys glance at me. “You know him?” Vic asks.
“Not exactly.” I grab my phone, ready to text Quinn. “My best friend worked for him, and he made more than a few passes, then had her fired for watching porn, AND THEN the motherfucker stalked her.”
“She was watching porn at work?” Amusement tugs at Linc’s lips.
“No,” I say with an exasperated sigh. “He had her fired for it.”
The guys all make faces, like they don’t quite understand.
“Ah, so he was mad she rejected him and made up a lie to hurt her?” Marco asks.
“Yes!” I gesture to Marco. “See, the omega gets it.”
My alphas and beta trade looks, and I shake my head. “Helpless, all of you.”
“You wound me.” Linc clutches his chest.
“You’ll survive, big guy. The point is,” I say, glaring at the TV, “on top of ripping people off, he’s one creepy fuck, and he’s getting off easy.”
I unlock my phone and shoot off a long overdue text to my BFF.
Okay. Something’s happened. I think I might be falling in love. Also, did you see that shit bag got sentenced to three years in prison?
Quinn
Mosley deserved at least ten, but three is better than none and OMG. EXCUSE ME? DID YOU SAY YOU WERE FALLING IN LOVE?!
Grinning at my phone, I hope she won’t be too upset with me for keeping her in the dark for so long.
It’s a long, complicated story . . . coffee tomorrow?
We set a time and place to meet up. I tuck my phone away, turning to Marco. “I’m going to see if Quinn’s pack can help us fight for custody.”
My brother’s gaze bounces from mine to my pack and back again.
“We discussed it last night before bed. They’re on board.”
“Daria is our mate, and you’re her family, which means you’re also our family.” Kai drops his hand onto my thigh and squeezes. “Your sister is pretty amazing.”
Marco nods. “Yeah, she’s pretty awesome,” he rasps.
“Is it okay if I fight for custody of you? I’m an adult, and with the pack, there’s no reason we won’t win, not with Mom’s history.” I search his face, regretting not bringing it up when we were alone.
“I’m okay with it,” Marco whispers, eyes watering. “I...I, uh, I’m going to go to my room.” He gets up and practically runs from the room.
I start to rise, but Kai stops me.
“Give him a little while, then I’ll go talk to him.”
“I’m his sister. I have to deal with these things.”
Kai shakes his head. “We deal with these things together, and as much as your brother loves you, I think he needs someone more parental to talk to.”
“You don’t have to fill that role.” I need them all to know that’s not the expectation. Letting Marco live with them is one thing, but asking them to step in and help me raise him is another. I don’t want to burden them with my problems. “I can handle it.”
Vic clears his throat. “I think you’re missing the point, little doe.”
I pinch my eyebrows together. “Okay, what’s the point?”
“You don’t have to do it alone. We’re a pack. We do things together, and Marco needs more than one person in his life,” Vic says.
“It’s a lot of work,” I murmur.
“And, like I said, we’re a pack. We’ll do this together. So, are you going to keep arguing with us, or will you let Kai go talk to him in a little bit?” Vic arches his eyebrow, daring me to keep protesting, but as his words sink in, I know he’s right.
I can’t be the only person in Marco’s life. He needs to learn how to trust. He deserves to know how healthy relationships work, be it friendships, romantic, or with a caregiver.
The fact that my pack wants to help me out? My heart fills with happiness. “Okay,” I relent. “Thank you.”
Before I can get really sappy and cry, Linc snatches the remote from Kai. “ Kill Bill started streaming, and that’s what we’re watching.”
“So much for doing things together,” Vic mutters with a smirk.
Lincoln side-eyes him. “Please, you love watching Uma slash and stab.”
“No lies detected.” Vic grins at his friend.
“Personally, I’m a fan of the Pussy Wagon scene,” I say.
Linc’s eyes dance when they meet mine. “Wiggle your toe.”
I roll my eyes. “Stop yapping and put the movie on.”
“You’re so rude,” he grumbles.
“I know, but you love me.”
Linc nods. “Yeah, bunny. I do.”
“We all do,” Kai says, kissing me on the side of the head before standing. “I’ll go talk to Marco.”
“Thanks, babe.” I squeeze his hand.
“He’ll be okay. He’s a good kid,” Kai reassures me before heading off to talk to my brother.
I don’t know what I did to deserve a pack like this, or maybe the universe is finally apologizing for the shit it put me through, but I hope the happiness rushing through my veins isn’t temporary. Because now that I know what true love is, I’m not sure I can survive without it.